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101 Answered Katherine Dobbs, RVT, CVPM, PHR QUESTIONSQUESTIONSVeterinary Technician veterinary solutions series IsBn 978-1-58326-106-4 KAtherIne doBBs, rVt, CVPM, Phr, became a registered veterinary technician in 1992. She is now a veterinary practice management consultant and the owner of interFace Veterinary HR Systems, LLC. She speaks at regional and national conferences, and she has written for numerous veterinary journals and publications. ve te rin ary solution s series InforMAtIon And InsPIrAtIon for VeterInAry teChnICIAns! 101 Veterinary technician Questions Answered is ideal for entry-level technicians, and even seasoned professionals will learn something new. The book is filled with practical suggestions to motivate you and increase your skills and productivity. We found experienced veterinary technicians working in the field to answer your most pressing veterinary technology questions—truly making this a tool for technicians, by technicians. Their answers include tips that you can implement immediately to start making your job easier and more rewarding. This handy book also includes resource referrals to learn more about topics central to the field. Together, we make a difference every day to the pets in our care, the pet owners who trust us to help, and the professionals that share our desire to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. This resource can make a difference every day in your own life. “ This is an excellent and timely publication loaded with thought-provoking ideas and references. Technicians of all levels and abilities will gain valuable knowledge, and any one interested in this field should read this book to gain insight into the profession. — Denise Mikita, MS, CVT, Colorado Association of Certified Veterinary Technicians, Executive Director 101 Veterinary technician Questions Answ ered doBBs Doc uCo m P DF Tria l ww w.pd fwiz ard. com 需无水印完整版本请发邮件：wzxidian@gmail.com 101 Veterinary technician Questions answered Katherine Dobbs, RVT, CVPM, PHR Doc uCo m P DF Tria l ww w.pd fwiz ard. com 需无水印完整版本请发邮件：wzxidian@gmail.com American Animal Hospital Association Press 12575 West Bayaud Avenue Lakewood, Colorado 80228 800/252-2242 or 303/986-2800 AAHAPress@aahanet.org www.aahanet.org © 2009 Katherine Dobbs All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or in an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Dobbs, Katherine. 101 veterinary technician questions answered / Katherine Dobbs. p. cm. ISBN 1-58326-106-0 (alk. paper) 1. Animal health technicians—Handbooks, manuals, etc. 2. Animal health technology—Handbooks, manuals, etc. I. Title. II. Title: One hundred and one veterinary technician questions answered. III. Title: One hundred one veterinary technician questions answered. SF774.4.D63 2009 636.089’0737069—dc22 2009005299 CIP Printed in the United States of America 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Interior design by Elizabeth Lahey. Cover design by Erin Johnson Design. Doc uCo m P DF Tria l ww w.pd fwiz ard. com 需无水印完整版本请发邮件：wzxidian@gmail.com DEDICATION For my family, both human and furry, especially Mary Ann and Katie. iii Doc uCo m P DF Tria l ww w.pd fwiz ard. com 需无水印完整版本请发邮件：wzxidian@gmail.com Doc uCo m P DF Tria l ww w.pd fwiz ard. com 需无水印完整版本请发邮件：wzxidian@gmail.com table of contents Preface vi 1 Career Development 1 2 Avoiding Burnout 19 3 Promoting the Profession 27 4 Client Service 42 5 Staff Training 60 6 Staff Communication 72 7 Work Flow 91 8 Safety and Regulation 110 9 Patient Restraint 124 10 Patient History and Vitals 130 11 Patient Treatment 142 12 Patient Support 150 13 Diagnostic and Imaging Procedures 155 14 Dentistry and Dental Radiography 161 15 Surgery and Anesthesia 168 16 Laboratory 175 Index 182 v Doc uCo m P DF Tria l ww w.pd fwiz ard. com 需无水印完整版本请发邮件：wzxidian@gmail.com PREFACE What compels us to enter the field of veterinary medicine? More impor-tantly, what keeps us here? You may wonder why, when you have been on your feet for ten hours with no lunch break, when you are covered with blood, feces, and vomit, when you have just argued with your boss and you’ve had to euthanize your favorite patient. Yet you’ll wake up the next day, pull on your scrubs, walk through the doors of your practice, and face another day of poop and puppy kisses, high maintenance clients and thankful coworkers, senile cats and wary Rottweilers, all because of your love for this profession. What began as a love for animals was enhanced by a connection to clients, who share the same bond to their pets as you have to yours. As you immersed yourself in the work to make pets healthier and live longer, you realized that you share this goal with the people toiling beside you, and mutual respect sprouted. Whether you have just attended your first seminar or your hun- dredth lecture, you have learned to appreciate how versatile and dynamic this profession truly is. You discovered your potential to grow constantly in your knowledge and skills. The purpose of this publication is to provide you information, resources, and inspiration. When we asked technicians to share their most challenging problems, two thirds of the responses involved career and personal develop- ment, and the promotion of our profession. It became obvious that while we feel we have conquered many of the technical skills involved in veterinary technology, it is the issues that appear to be beyond our control that trouble us most. One respondent said, “How do I stay inspired when I’m tired, the cli- ents are driving me nuts, and I would like to push my doctor off a cliff ?” There is no doubt you feel this way some days, and need some inspiration too. You may find the inspiration you seek in this book, either in a comment from one of your colleagues or in the form of a practical tip to make your day run more smoothly. One thing is certain: Together, we make a difference every day to the pets in our care, the pet owners who trust us to help, and the professionals that share our desire to pursue this career in veterinary medicine. Please note that we have used “she” to refer to technicians, veterinarians, and dogs, and we have used “he” to refer to clients, managers, and cats. We simply wanted to avoid an awkward “he or she” sentence construction, and we made this split randomly. vi Doc uCo m P DF Tria l ww w.pd fwiz ard. com 需无水印完整版本请发邮件：wzxidian@gmail.com ABOUT THE AUTHOR Katherine Dobbs, RVT, CVPM, PHR, began her career in veterinary medicine by becoming a registered veterinary technician in 1992. Since that time, her love of animals and the veterinary profession has led her down a path toward practice management and human resources, yet she is never far from her roots as a technician. She has moved into a career of consulting with the intention of helping technicians and all veterinary professionals discover or maintain a career path that is both personally satisfying and professionally successful. vii Doc uCo m P DF Tria l ww w.pd fwiz ard. com 需无水印完整版本请发邮件：wzxidian@gmail.com Doc uCo m P DF Tria l ww w.pd fwiz ard. com 需无水印完整版本请发邮件：wzxidian@gmail.com ACKNOWLEDgMENTS Mentors have been so important in my career. I would like to express my appreciation to Vickie Lawrence, DVM, who showed me how a veterinarian could really be part of a pet’s family, and who provided me the opportunity to learn all aspects of veterinary practice while pursuing my veterinary education; and to george Younger, DVM, who inspired excellence at Tomball College during my years in the veterinary technology program, and provided me the education I needed to move forward. Most especially, I am thankful for the guidance of Derek Burney, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, who taught me so much about connecting with clients and with the veterinary team. I am grateful for my years of veterinary experience and opportunity. This book was made possible by friends and colleagues who share the veterinary technician profession. I am appreciative of those technicians who told us about the greatest challenges in their work, and the technicians who responded to those challenges with lessons to share and inspiration to give. Veterinary technicians are an amazing group of professionals, and you are all appreciated for your accomplishments. For those who contributed to this book, I thank you1: Alexa Pickles, CVT, Friendship Hospital for Animals, Fort Collins, CO Alexandra Dashkevicz, BS, BA, RVT, Town and Country Veterinary Services, Manalapan, NJ Alexis M. Henry, LVT, Animal Health Clinic, Fargo, ND Alicia Lee, CVT, Cleveland Heights Animal Hospital, Lakeland, FL Alisha Young, RVT, Spring Meadow Veterinary Clinic, Ashland, OH Alison Lessard, LVT, Telford, PA Amanda Henry, CVT, Janesville Animal Medical Center, Janesville, WI Amber L. Williams, CVT, Berkshire Veterinary Hospital, Pittsfield, MA Amy Campbell, CVT, VTS (ECC), Tufts Veterinary Emergency Treatment and Specialties, Walpole, MA Amy Klotz, Douds Veterinary Hospital, Oberlin, OH Andrea (Andi) Nelsen, CVT, VTS (ECC), Animal Wellness Center of Maple grove, Maple grove, MN Andrea J. Pulzone, CVT, Ark Animal Hospital, Philomath, OR ix Doc uCo m P DF Tria l ww w.pd fwiz ard. com 需无水印完整版本请发邮件：wzxidian@gmail.com Anne Matz, RVT Aylah Skultety, Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, Tinton Falls, NJ Barbara McCullough, CVT, Russell Veterinary Hospital, P.C., Russell, PA Becky Ramiz, CVT, MVS, Miami, FL Beth Finnegan, LVT, greenbriar Veterinary Referral and Emergency Hospital, Frederick, MD Beth galligan, RVT, Kansas State University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Manhattan, KS Beth Stawicki, CVT, Raritan Animal Hospital, Edison, NJ Beverly Baumgartner, LVT, Spencer Springs Animal Hospital, Las Vegas, NV Blythe M. Swanger, BS, RVT, Broad Ripple Animal Clinic, Indianapolis, IN Bobbi Jo King, RVT, Elk grove, CA Bonnie Loghry, RVT, Yuba College Veterinary Technology Program, Marysville, CA Bree Bruski, Lextron Animal Health, Billings, MT Brenda K. Feller, RVT, CVT, VCA, Indianapolis Veterinary Clinic, Indianapolis, IN Brenna Johnson, CVT, Rochester, MN Cari Mills, All Pet Emergency Clinic, Evansville, IN Carl Koop, CVT, Advance Equine Dentistry, Parker, CO Carol A. gault, RVT, RLATg, Pfizer Animal Health, Kalamazoo, MI Caroline Tibbetts, RVT, West Manheim Animal Hospital, Hanover, PA Catharine Doucette, CVT, Kingston Animal Hospital, Kingston, MA Cecilia garza, CVT, RVT, Louisville Family Animal Hospital, Louisville, CO Chantelle Tebaldi, CVT, Angell Animal Medical Center, Boston, MA Char Mason, LVT, VTS (ECC), Animal Emergency and Critical Care at The Life Centre, Leesburg, VA Cheryl Porter, LVT, Fort Hunt Animal Hospital, Alexandria, VA Christina May Chatham, Arizona Animal Wellness Center, gilbert, AZ Christina Mullins, LVT, Kings Veterinary Hospital, Cincinnati, OH Christine E. Murphy, LVT, Flannery Animal Hospital, New Windsor, NY Christine M.H. White, CVT, Small Animal Surgical Service, LLC, Wallingford, CT Christine Schultz, CVT, Burr Ridge Veterinary Clinic, Burr Ridge, IL Christy Miles, LVT, VTS (ECC), Veterinary Emergency Treatment Service, Charlottesville, VA Acknowledgments x Doc uCo m P DF Tria l ww w.pd fwiz ard. com 需无水印完整版本请发邮件：wzxidian@gmail.com Cindi Wyatt, Head Veterinary Technician, Desert Tails Animal Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ Cindy Dittmar, RVT, Henderson, TX Cindy Wright, CVT, Mountain View Animal Hospital, Scotrun, PA Conni L. Bills, LVT, Farmington Veterinary Hospital, Farmington, NY Crystal Schaeffer, Noahs Animal Hospital, Indianapolis, IN Dana Fehl, CVT, Duncan Manor Animal Hospital, Allison Park, PA Danielle Bedard, LVT, Craig Road Animal Hospital, Las Vegas, NV Danielle K. Simmons, CVT, Abington Veterinary Center, Clarks Summit, PA Darci L. Harris, CVT, Adobe Veterinary Center, Tucson, AZ David L., CVT, LVT, Fort Wright Pet Care and Surgical Center, Fort Wright, KY Dawn Bolka, RVT, BSBA, Hobart Animal Clinic, Hobart, IN Dawn M. Ellis, CVT, SC Surgical Referral Service, Columbia, SC Dawn Marie Perault, CVT, Century Animal Clinic, Maplewood, MN Dawn Terrill, CVT, Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Hospital, South Deerfield, MA Deb Buttke, RVT, CVT, Prairie Hills Pet Clinic, Milbank, SD Debbie Kiernan, RVT, Walnut Creek Animal Clinic, Mansfield, TX Denise DeCarlo, Noahs Brandywine Animal Health Care Center, greenfield, IN Denise Lenhart, LVT, Hudson Highlands, Hopewell Junction, NY Diane Becker, RVT, Animal Medical Hospital, Charlotte, NC Diane W. Culver, LVT, Stack Veterinary Hospital, Syracuse, NY Donna Broussard, Preston Royal Animal Clinic, Dallas, TX Donna J. Johnston, RVT, IWCC, Veterinary Technology, Council Bluffs, IA Ed Huntley, CVT, Brookside Veterinary Hospital, Bridgeport, CT Elizabeth J. Hughes, CVT, Falls Road Veterinary Hospital, Potomac, MD Elizabeth M. Johnson-Rhodes, RVT, CCRA, VCA, Woodland South Animal Hospital and Canine Rehabilitation Center, Tulsa, OK Elizabeth Olvera, RVT, Defiance, OH Elizabeth Warren, RVT, Austin, TX Erika Ervin, BS, CVT, Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital, Oakhurst, NJ Fiona M. Christie, RVT, Akron, OH Francine Dermer, LVT, Springfield Veterinary Center, glen Allen, VA gail Finkelstein, LVT, Roundhill Animal Hospital, Zephyr Cove, NV xi 101 Veterinary Technician Questions Answered Doc uCo m P DF Tria l ww w.pd fwiz ard. com 需无水印完整版本请发邮件：wzxidian@gmail.com gerianne Holzman, CVT, VTS (Dentistry), Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Madison, WI gina Falish, CVT, Animal Emergency and Treatment Center, grayslake, IL gina Harrison, RVT, Bright Eyes & Bushy Tails Veterinary Hospital, Iowa City, IA goksun Deniz, LVT, Hoboken, NJ Heather Bowen, CVT, Buzzards Bay Veterinary Associates, Buzzards Bay, MA Heidi Reinhardt, CVT, Bobtown Pet Clinic, Roberts, WI Helen R. DeWitt, CVT, grayslake Animal Hospital, grayslake, IL I. Sean Seelhoff, LVT, Baker College of Muskegon, Muskegon, MI Jamie Kavan, LVT, ToMorrow’s Veterinary Care, Waverly, NE Janice W. Hayes, BS, RVT, Cohutta Animal Clinic, Blue Ridge, gA Jasmine J. Johnsen, VT, CVA, Avian and Feline Hospital, Camp Hill, PA Jasminne Nash, RVT, Riverstone Animal Hospital, Canton, gA Jennifer Henze, LVT, glove Cities Veterinary Hospital, P.C., gloversville, NY Jennifer Klotch, RVT, County of San Diego Animal Services, San Diego, CA Jennifer Leo, CVT, Animal Hospital of Ashwaubenon, green Bay, WI Jennifer S. Limon, RVT, Delgado Community College, Covington, LA Jessica Maloy, LVT, Animal Health Center, Enterprise, AL Jessica Pascal, CVT, Veterinary Surgical and Diagnostic Specialists, Clarksburg, NJ Jill Betz, LVT, Red Cedar Animal Hospital PC, Okemos, MI Jill Foster, RVT, Indian Hills Animal Clinic, Wichita, KS JoAnn gammon, CVT, Animal Hospital, Longmont, CO Joanne Light, LVT, Paradise Pet Hospital, Las Vegas, NV Jodean Hipke, CVT, Peshtigo Veterinary Service, Peshtigo, WI Joseph D’Abbraccio, LVT, Monhagen Veterinary Hospital, Middletown, NY Karen Eckhoff, RVT, San Diego Humane Society and SPCA, San Diego, CA Karen Lynn Moes, Ottawa Animal Hospital, Holland, MI Katelyn Little, CVT, Intown Veterinary group, Woburn, MA Kathy Cetron, CVT, Home Veterinary Service, Belford, NJ Kathy Daily, RVT, El Dorado Animal Clinic, El Dorado, KS Kathy Elbel, LVT, Lee’s Summit Animal Hospital, PC, Lee’s Summit, MO Kathy Simpson, BBA, RVT, Albuquerque Cat Clinic, Albuquerque, NM Kellie Bartett, RVT, LVT, SAMP, Advanced Care Animal Clinic, Arlington, WA xii Acknowledgments Doc uCo m P DF Tria l ww w.pd fwiz ard. com 需无水印完整版本请发邮件：wzxidian@gmail.com Kendell Brichacek, LVT, Bar-S Veterinary Clinic, David City, NE Kerry Howard, CVT, Verona Veterinary Medical Service S.C., Verona, WI Kim Buethe, LVT, Best Care Pet Hospital, Omaha, NE Kim Innes, CVT, All County Animal Hospital, Brooksville, FL Kim M. Novick, CVT, Veterinary Learning Systems, Yardley, PA Kimberley A. Tidball, CVT, Bayleaf Veterinary Hospital, Raleigh, NC Kristin P. Coppola, CVT, Phoenix Veterinary Hospital, Wayland, MA Krystal Sobrino, CVT, LVT, All Pets Animal Hospital, Peoria, AZ Laura K. Frazier, BA, AAT, RVT, Highland Animal Hospital, Augusta, gA Lauren Blue, BS, garden Creek Pet Clinic, greensboro, NC Leah Erickson, CVT, Cannon Valley Veterinary Clinic, Northfield, MN Lee Apua’latl, CVT, Riverbend Animal Hospital, Hadley, MA Lewanne E. Hunt Sharp, BA, RVT, VTS (ECC), Mesa Community College Veterinary Technology Program, Mesa, AZ Linda Hennessy, RVT, Diablo View Veterinary Hospital, Pleasant Hill, CA Linda Merrill, LVT, VTS (SAIM), Seattle Veterinary Associates, Seattle, WA Linda Myers, CVT, Perkiomen Animal Hospital, Palm, PA Lindsay Y. Feerrar, CVT, Neffsville Veterinary Clinic, and Lancaster Career and Technology Center, Lancaster, PA Lisa Cothran, Vet Pets Animal Hospital, Cordova, TN Lisa Paquette, Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College, Asheville, NC Lisa Redington, LVT, Mobile Animal Clinic, Omaha, NE Lisa Tucker, RVT, Forsyth Animal Hospital, Cumming, gA Liz Culver, CVT, All Creatures Veterinary Hospital, Coventry, CT Liza Wysong Rudolph, LVT, Metropolitan Veterinary Associates, Valley Forge, PA Lyndi M. Watson, LVT, Pebble Creek Animal and Bird Hospital, Tampa, FL Lynn A. Loper, CVT, Stafford Veterinary Hospital, Manahawkin, NJ Lynn Presnell, RVT, Doc-Side Veterinary Medical Center, Baltimore, MD M. Nicole Petrovich, RVT, Carlsbad Animal Hospital, Carlsbad, CA Margot Williams, RVT, Oakland Animal Hospital, Oakland, NJ Marisa Rhyne, RVT, VTS (ECC), Veterinary Specialists of North Texas, Dallas, TX Marjorie DeMeyere, LVT, Maple Veterinary Hospital, Troy, MI Mark Horton, CVT, Veterinary Surgical Services, Englewood, CO 101 Veterinary Technician Questions Answered xiii Doc uCo m P DF Tria l ww w.pd fwiz ard. com 需无水印完整版本请发邮件：wzxidian@gmail.com Mark L. Hoag, LVT, Colonie Animal Hospital, Albany, NY Mary Catherine Costello, CVT, Shoreview North Oaks Animal Hospital, Shoreview, MN Mary grace g. Phillips, RVT, great Lakes Veterinary Specialists, Bedford Hts., OH Mary M. Bramer, LVT, Burnt Hills Veterinary Hospital, Burnt Hills, NY Mary Matthews, CVT, Lantana-Atlantis Animal Hospital, Lantana, FL Maureen Hagen, LVT, Town Center Veterinary Associates, Howell, MI Maxine Hladky, LVT, VCA Black Mountain Animal Hospital, Henderson, NV Megan Licht, LVT, Transit Animal Hospital, Depew, NY Melissa J. Sloss, LVT, RVT, Auburn University Small Animal Teaching Hospital, Auburn, AL Melissa Siekaniec, CVT, VTS (ECC), Florida Veterinary Specialists, Tampa, FL Melody Quammen, CVT, San Juan Veterinary Clinic, Montrose, CO Melody Thompson, RVT, Equine Medical Associates, Edmond, OK Michele guzik-Mosher, CVT, Center for Animal Referral & Emergency Services, Langhorne, PA Michele L. Murphy, LVT, CVT, Woodland Animal Clinic, DeLand, FL Michele Laughlin, CVT, Parker Center Animal Clinic, Parker, CO Michelle Brevard, CVT, Brooklyn Veterinary Clinic, Castle Rock, CO Michelle Keith, LVT, Westgate Veterinary Hospital, Enterprise, AL Michelle Lewis, CVT, Magic Valley Veterinary Hospital, Twin Falls, ID Michelle Miller, BS, CVT, University of Minnesota, Veterinary Medical Center, St. Paul, MN Michelle Sledge, LVT, Crestwood Veterinary Hospital, Crestwood, KY Mindy Bough, CVT, ASPCA Midwest Office, Urbana, IL Misty Woolf, RVT, Colonial Terrace Animal Hospital, Dubuque, IA Monique Pierpont, Harmony Animal Hospital, Jupiter, FL Nancy A. Miller, RVT, Kimberly Crest Veterinary Hospital, Davenport, IA Nancy A. Roth, BS, RVT, SRA, Eureka Veterinary Clinic, Eureka, MO Nancy K. Robinson, RVT, LVT, Central Car